"What's wrong? Can't lift your head anymore?"
Ye Xing threw dozens of consecutive punches, forcing the shield-bearing Akoya back four or five metres.
"Is this all your so-called justice amounts to?"
Akoya's wrists trembled slightly as he observed the protruding fist imprints on his riot shield. For the first time in his life, he experienced the emotion of fear.
This shield was forged from metal sturdy enough to withstand close-range pistol fire.
An average person couldn't even lift it single-handedly.
Yet this criminal called Mask had deformed it with his bare hands?
In all his years, Akoya had never encountered anyone whose physical prowess so vastly surpassed his own!
For once, his thoughts aligned perfectly with Soichiro's.
This opponent...
Could such a being truly be human?
Akoya gritted his teeth, cold light flashing in his eyes.
His justice would tolerate no challengers.
With a sudden movement, Akoya stood up, hefting the riot shield with both hands, muscles bulging as he mustered all his strength to smash it down towards Ye Xing's head.
"Justice shall be—"
Wham.
Before the shield could descend, Ye Xing simply raised his foot and kicked Akoya square in the chest.
Watching the 114kg Akoya get sent flying nearly ten metres to crash against the riot vehicle's front, Soichiro stood utterly stunned.
What terrifying, explosive power could send such a massive man flying like that?
Ye Xing shook his head with a faint smile.
"You like executing justice? Let me help you fly."
"Ugh..."
The moment he collided with the vehicle's front, Seishu Akoya felt an intense pain shoot through his back, accompanied by the distinct sound of something cracking.
He didn't know how many bones he'd broken, only that his entire body had gone limp. Try as he might, he couldn't muster the strength to stand up.
"Oh?"
Noticing Akoya was still conscious, still breathing, and even capable of groaning in pain, Ye Xing approached and crouched down on one knee, studying him with amused interest. His voice carried a hint of laughter.
"That kick didn't kill you outright? Impressive. As expected of the Metropolitan Police Department's strongest."
Though Ye Xing's words sounded like praise, all Akoya felt was humiliation.
With great effort, he lifted his head to meet Ye Xing's gaze. His face contorted slightly—whether from the excruciating pain or from the stubborn refusal to accept defeat.
"I... who represent justice... actually lost to evil..."
"Justice? Evil?"
Ye Xing shook his head and spoke softly.
"I don't particularly care how others view my actions, but I'll tell you what I think."
Locking eyes with Akoya, he enunciated each word with calm precision.
"My heart and actions are utterly clear. They are all those of justice."
"All who stand in my way..."
"Are evil."
Without waiting for a response, Ye Xing stood, grabbed Akoya's head, and slammed it hard against the armoured vehicle.
With a dull thud, Akoya's eyes rolled back as he lost consciousness, collapsing limply to the ground.
The entire fight had lasted less than a minute.
Director Soichiro Yagami could only describe it with one word.
Overwhelming.
It had been completely one-sided.
He'd never imagined that Akoya—the Metropolitan Police Department's most formidable combatant—could lose in a one-on-one fight.
And lose so decisively.
"Mediocre."
Glancing at Akoya's unconscious form, Ye Xing merely shook his head dismissively.
Unfortunately, the other party had come at the wrong time.
If Seishu Akoya had come looking for him when he was still Ye Xing, a first-year Class A student at Sobu High School - just like Wu Hei last time - the fight might have lasted longer.
But this time, Seishu Akoya had chosen to challenge him when he was in his Mask persona.
This meant Ye Xing didn't need to hold back or conceal his true strength.
Although Akoya was the strongest in the Metropolitan Police Department, the outcome of this battle had been predetermined from the start.
Ye Xing didn't even use any martial arts techniques - it was pure physical superiority.
Martial arts were merely tools he used to win when he didn't want to go all out.
As Mask, he had no reservations about displaying strength beyond ordinary human imagination.
"Well then..."
Ye Xing walked up to the Gate, then turned to face Soichiro Yagami. A white pattern resembling a smile appeared on his pure black mask.
"Until we meet again, Chief Yagami."
Watching Ye Xing's figure gradually disappear, Soichiro Yagami exhaled deeply as if a great weight had been lifted.
Leaning against the alley wall, uncaring about his pristine black suit, he slumped onto the filthy, sewage-covered ground. His gaze fell upon the unconscious Akoya as he muttered to himself.
"What... have I done..."
...
Half an hour later.
"We're back."
Miko Yotsuya and Ye Xing passed through the Gate, appearing in Rio Futaba's living room.
Seeing them return safely, both Rio Futaba and Yui Yuigahama sighed in relief.
Futaba first gave them a once-over, confirming neither showed visible injuries. The worry between her brows finally dissipated as she adjusted her glasses and said calmly,
"Did you get it?"
"Of course."
Miko had already changed out of her disguise clothes in the Reverse World to leave no traceable evidence for the police.
She collapsed onto the soft sofa. After staying up all night and the tense infiltration operation, she was utterly exhausted. Yawning, she lay down directly on the sofa, lazily rubbing her eyes.
"Exhausted... I'm sleeping first."
"Eh, there's a guest room—"
Before Futaba could finish, Miko had already fallen into a deep, baby-like sleep.
It was clear she was completely worn out.
"Honestly..."
Futaba shook her head helplessly, pouring a steaming cup of coffee and sliding it towards Ye Xing.
"So, what happened?"
"Alright."
Over the next ten minutes, Ye Xing recounted everything - infiltrating the exhibition hall, Onimaru Kunitsuna choosing its master, reaching an understanding with Soichiro Yagami, and defeating Akoya.
After hearing the story, both girls wore complicated expressions. They exchanged glances before simultaneously exclaiming:
"You call this a phantom thief? More like a robber!"
"Same difference. We got what we needed."
Futaba sighed softly, her eyes behind the lenses revealing complex emotions as she murmured to herself, "The theft of the famous sword Onimaru Kunitsuna... this will surely become news that shocks all of Japan."
"What are you talking about?"
Ye Xing shrugged and smiled meaningfully.
"Onimaru Kunitsuna was never actually stolen, understand?"
"Huh?"
Yui Yuigahama wore an expression of complete confusion.
"But didn't you and Miko steal it... I mean, didn't you two return it to its rightful owner? How can you say it wasn't stolen?"
Rio Futaba, however, grasped the implication in Ye Xing's words. Frowning slightly, she said with some scepticism:
"You're suggesting the museum and Metropolitan Police Department would deliberately conceal the loss of Onimaru Kunitsuna? That can't be possible, can it?"
Ye Xing shook his head.
"Futaba, while your intelligence is high, you ultimately don't understand the complexity of human nature."
"Is that so..."
Rio Futaba murmured to herself without rebuttal.
She knew her strength lay in information organisation and analysis.
When it came to deciphering complex human psychology, Ye Xing, sitting opposite her, was far more skilled.
Rio Futaba didn't find this embarrassing at all.
No one was perfect.
Wasn't the original purpose of Ye Xing establishing the Supernatural Society precisely to gather members with different strengths, compensating for each other's weaknesses to combat supernatural events and protect Kyoto?
She just needed to do what she excelled at - that was enough.
"By the way,"
Yui Yuigahama's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Can you show us Onimaru Kunitsuna?"
Though less obvious, Rio Futaba's eyes behind her glasses also revealed anticipation at this question.
"Of course."
Ye Xing smiled and summoned the pale ghost hand, withdrawing the sheathed Onimaru Kunitsuna from its grasp and placing it horizontally on the table.
"Here it is. Look as long as you want - don't stand on ceremony with me."
By now, Rio Futaba and Yui Yuigahama were too absorbed to notice Ye Xing's casual tone.
"So this is... Onimaru Kunitsuna..."
The girls' gazes fixed on the ancient wooden scabbard, their pink lips pressed together as their breathing grew slightly heavier.
Hojo Tokimasa, Nobunaga Oda, Toyotomi Hideyoshi...
Each successive owner of Onimaru Kunitsuna had been a pivotal figure in Japanese history.
To call this famous sword a treasure, one that has witnessed centuries of Japanese history, would be no exaggeration.
Rio Futaba extended her pale right hand as if to touch Onimaru Kunitsuna, but halfway through the motion, she hesitated, pausing mid-air as if fearing disrespect.
Noticing this, Ye Xing chuckled softly.
"Unsheathe."
At his command, the sword concealed within its scabbard slid out by itself.
The profound black blade made even the chandelier's light in the living room seem dim by comparison.
Witnessing Onimaru Kunitsuna unsheathe itself, Yui Yuigahama and Rio Futaba's pupils dilated in shock.
"You've truly... become Onimaru Kunitsuna's acknowledged master?"
This famous blade, held by so many renowned historical figures, had actually submitted to Ye Xing?
Clearly, Onimaru Kunitsuna—a powerful spiritual object with centuries of inheritance—had developed its own sentience.
Does this mean...
In Onimaru Kunitsuna's eyes, Ye Xing was someone who would have a significant impact on history and leave his name in the annals, just like Hojo Tokimasa, Nobunaga Oda, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi?
So the Supernatural Quantum Mechanics Research Society he belonged to was this formidable?
But...
Rio Futaba glanced at Onimaru Kunitsuna's blade and asked doubtfully.
"This sword... wasn't this colour originally, was it?"
Ye Xing's reply was brief and matter-of-fact.
"It is now."
Just then, the phone in Ye Xing's pocket suddenly rang.
He stood up and smiled at Yui Yuigahama and Rio Futaba.
"I'm going to take this call. You can look at it as long as you like. You can even touch it if you want—it counts as shared property of our Supernatural Society."
Hearing this, Yui Yuigahama nodded excitedly and cautiously extended her fair, delicate right hand towards Onimaru Kunitsuna's blade.
"Ow."
Yui winced in pain and withdrew her hand, looking at Rio with aggrieved eyes.
"Why'd you hit me?"
"You were actually going to touch it?"
Rio Futaba shook her head helplessly and lowered her voice.
"This is a legendary sentient sword. Aren't you afraid of backlash?"
Yui gasped at this realisation—she was right.
Although Onimaru Kunitsuna had acknowledged Ye Xing as its master, that didn't extend to her.
A famous sword capable of slaying evil spirits must have quite the temper, right?
Just as Yui Yuigahama and Rio Futaba were thinking this, they saw Onimaru Kunitsuna float up.
Then it carefully brought its blade to rest in Yui's open palm.
Yui and Rio froze for a moment, sharing the same thought.
Bloody hell.
Onimaru Kunitsuna was actually a simp?
Of course, they didn't think the famous sword was trying to curry favour with them.
It was clearly trying to ingratiate itself with Ye Xing through them.
"Wait, where's Hachishaku-sama?"
For some reason, the thought of 'currying favour' made Rio remember Hachishaku-sama.
She scanned the living room and found Hachishaku-sama curled up and trembling in a corner nearly ten metres away.
Rio didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
'Thank goodness our living room is big enough, or Hachishaku-sama wouldn't even have space to hide.'
But...
If even Hachishaku-sama in her current state could be frightened like this, it seemed Onimaru Kunitsuna truly was a treasure blade capable of suppressing evil spirits.
...
Meanwhile, inside the room.
Ye Xing took out his phone and saw a familiar number on the screen.
"Hello, Haruno."
Haruno Yukinoshita's voice sounded tired, but she still answered with her usual playful lilt.
"Ye Xing, are we now on such intimate terms that we can call each other by our first names?"
"That's not an easy question to answer."
"What's so difficult about it? It's either yes or no."
"Whether it is or not depends on what favour you want from me."
Hearing this, Haruno Yukinoshita on the other end of the line fell silent for a moment before sighing.
"As expected, I can't hide anything from you. Are you free tonight? I'd like to talk face-to-face."
"Hmm... I am free."
Ye Xing replied with a laugh.
"But next time, remember to make an appointment in advance."
Haruno was both annoyed and amused.
"Alright, alright, I get it. Next time I ask you out, I'll make an appointment in advance, okay?"
"Fine. Send me the address and time."
"Got it. See you tonight."
"Yeah, see you tonight."
After hanging up, Ye Xing stretched lazily without turning around, merely chuckling as he spoke.
"You heard everything?"
Rio Futaba's cool voice rang out.
"Going out tonight?"
Ye Xing turned to look at Rio Futaba, who appeared calm but was clearly displeased and awkward, and smirked.
"What do you mean by 'going out'? I don't live here in the first place. Unless... is this a suggestion?"
Rio Futaba's face instantly flushed red. She opened her mouth to retort angrily, but hesitated. Instead, she adjusted her glasses, lowered her head, and murmured in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
"C-cohabitation is out of the question... but... if you occasionally stay at my place for a day or two as a friend... I... I wouldn't have a reason to refuse."
"You're actually inviting me?"
Rio Futaba frowned slightly and snorted.
"If you don't want to, then forget I said anything."
"That won't do. Since you've said it, I have no choice but to accept."
Then, Ye Xing added.
"Tonight, I'm meeting Haruno Yukinoshita."
"Haruno Yukinoshita?"
Hearing the name, a thoughtful look flashed in Rio Futaba's eyes.
"Is that the Yukinoshita from Yukinoshita Construction, the one written on the banners during the airship promotion?"
"Correct."
"Then, is it also the same Yukinoshita as Yukino Yukinoshita from your class?"
"You know Yukino Yukinoshita?"
"No."
Rio Futaba shook her head and replied indifferently.
"It's just that Yui and I once discussed potential candidates if the club were to recruit new members."
Ye Xing nodded noncommittally.
"So, do you think Yukino Yukinoshita would be a good fit for the Supernatural Society?"
"On the contrary."
Rio Futaba delivered her conclusion in her usual rational tone.
"Yukino Yukinoshita is aloof and doesn't fit in with others."
"According to Yui Yuigahama, Yukino Yukinoshita is brutally honest, completely disregarding how her words might affect others."
"To put it nicely, she's straightforward and never pretends."
"To put it bluntly, Yukino Yukinoshita has the ability to integrate but chooses not to. This kind of psychological self-restraint is hard to overcome."
"As for her strengths, her grades seem good, and she's exceptionally attractive."
"So... my initial conclusion was that Yukino Yukinoshita isn't suitable to become a member of the Supernatural Society."
Noticing the word "initial", Ye Xing couldn't help asking curiously.
"And now?"
Rio Futaba looked up at him, her tone flat.
"After seeing the airship campaign, I searched online about the background of Yukinoshita Construction."
"Her mother is the company president, her father a Chiba prefectural assembly member."
"They have connections in both political and business circles."
"My current conclusion is..."
"If Yukino Yukinoshita sincerely wishes to help, our Society's intelligence network would extend beyond Kyoto City."
"Overall, she could be useful."